KEN HOGAN’S TIPPERARY romped into the semi-finals of the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling championship with a surprisingly comfortable seven-point victory over Limerick in Thurles this evening. The Shannonsiders arrived with high hopes of scoring a first victory over Tipp in this grade since 2002 but were sent packing by Jason Forde. The former Tipp minor captain and current senior panellist hit 1-8 as the hosts set up a semi-final showdown with Cork on July 17.

Forde, from the Silvermines club, was in imperious form and it was his 52nd minute goal that ended a Limerick revival that had brought them to within five points. Boosted by that Forde strike, after Liam McGrath had provided the pass, Tipp moved ten points clear before Shane Kenny’s cracking late goal added some respectability to the scoreboard from a Limerick perspective. But the writing was on the wall from an early stage as Tipp moved 0-8 to 0-2 clear by the 21st minute.

And by then, Tipp had missed a penalty as Forde, at the heart of everything good that the home side did, blazed a 17th minute effort over the crossbar after industrious Dan McCormack was hauled down by Alan Dempsey. But a killer goal did come for Tipp before half-time, when Forde set up Aidan McCormack for a clinical finish at the Killinan End. Limerick had offered little in the way of resistance although Andrew Ryan did brilliantly to hook William Hickey as the Treaty centre forward looked to get a shot away as early as the tenth minute. That was as close as Limerick got to Tipp’s goal in the first half but sub Michael Ryan netted in the 33rd minute as the visitors went in search of pride.

It was an evening when Declan Hannon and Shane Dowling had been earmarked to provide real spark for Limerick but the senior players never lived up to that billing. Instead, it was Forde who showed how good a player he already is, and can become, with a performance laced with maturity belying his age. Tipp, despite playing against the breeze, led by 1-11 to 0-4 at half-time.

Limerick, however, snapped away at Tipp’s heels during the second half, as 2519 spectators looked on. Four unanswered points – including three from Dowling – reduced the deficit to five points, 1-10 to 1-15, by the 49th minute. But Forde banged home the insurance goal at the Killinan End and that was that as Tipp repeated last year’s victory over the same opposition.

The Tipperary under 21 hurling team to play Limerick in the Bord Gais Energy Munster championship quarter final on Friday night is:

1. Darragh Mooney (Eire Og Annacarty)

2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill)

3. Michael Breen (Ballina)

4. Andrew Ryan (Toomevara)

5. Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule)

6. Tomás Hamill (Killea)

7. Seamus Kennedy (St. Marys Clonmel)

8. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) Captain

9. Justin Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

10. Jason Forde (Silvermines)

11. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)

12. Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons)

13. Aidan McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields)

14. Bill Walsh (Carrick Swan)

15. Liam McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)

The Limerick Under 21 management team of TJ Ryan (Garryspillane), Clem Smith (Ahane) and Peter Finn (Bruree) has announced their team and panel for the Munster Under 21 hurling championship against Tipperary in Semple Stadium on this Friday evening –

Lost to Tipperary by 1-16 to 1-11 in the Munster Semi-Final at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick.

Defeated Waterford and Limerick to qualify for the Munster Final. Lost to Clare in the final by 1-16 to 1-14 at Cusack Park Ennis.

Number of Munster Under 21 Hurling titles

6

20

Last Munster Under 21 Hurling Title

2011

2010

Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship Record since 2000

Played – 24
Won – 13
Lost – 9
Drawn – 2

Played – 28
Won – 18
Lost – 8
Drawn – 2

Last meeting in the Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship

July 18th 2012 at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick (Munster Semi-Final) – Tipperary 1-16 Limerick 1-11 – Denis Maher scored 1-3 and John O’Dwyer added 9 points to ensure a five point victory over Limerick.Click for more details

What happened 3 years ago?

2010 Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round-up

Defeated Kerry by 2-13 to 1-13 before losing to Clare in the Munster Semi-Final by 1-17 to 2-12 in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick.

Lost to Cork by 2-31 to 4-22 after extra time in the first round before losing to Clare by 0-17 to 1-13 in the Losers Group Playoff at Cusack Park Ennis.

Corn na Cásca presented by the Munster Council in 1966 to commemorate the jubilee of the 1916 Rising.

All Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship

In the Under 21 Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork top the charts along with Kilkenny with 11 titles.

Galway have 10 titles followed by Tipperary with 9. Limerick have won 4 All-Ireland titles in this grade. Clare have won 2 titles (both in the last 4 years) while Waterford have 1 title.

Useful Information

Tipperary have won at least 1 match in the Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship in 11 of the last 12 seasons (2007 being the exception thanks to a 1-14 to 2-10 defeat to Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the first round),

Since 2007, 4 of the 5 counties in the Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship have won the title – Cork (2007), Tipperary (2008 and 2010), Clare (2009 and 2012) and Limerick (2011).

Limerick have lost their first match in the Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship in 5 of the last 7 seasons.

The Munster Under 21 Hurling champions have captured the All-Ireland crown on just three occasions since 2003 – Clare (2009 and 2012) and Tipperary (2010).

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